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I Watched This Game: Canucks 4, Jets 1

On Tuesday night with the visiting Winnipeg Jets in town, Vancouver fans got to see a handful of things they haven’t really witnessed this year. First, they got to feast their peepers on Finnish phenom, Patrik Laine, for the first time.
I Watched This Game

On Tuesday night with the visiting Winnipeg Jets in town, Vancouver fans got to see a handful of things they haven’t really witnessed this year. First, they got to feast their peepers on Finnish phenom, Patrik Laine, for the first time. Second, they beheld the first ever Clash of the Tanevs, as brothers Chris and Brandon faced off. And lastly, fans were treated to a rare complete game*, something they’re not generally accustomed to.

*Disclaimer: the “complete game” mentioned by PITB is in reference to Jacob Markstrom’s performance alone. Any implication that the rest of the team played a complete game is coincidental and doesn’t reflect the position of this blog.

Now I need a disclaimer for my disclaimer. While not perfect, the Canucks also didn’t play terribly. They were outworked and outplayed for for the first period and a half, but they gained some jump near the end of the second frame and were able to solve Connor Hellebuyck three times and hold off the Jets. In addition to penning disclaimers, I watched this game.

  • Sven Baertschi is well-known for his offensive skills, but his two-way play is also growing and underrated. In the first period, he skated back to smartly defuse a rush by Mark Scheifele with a quick stick. Later in the period he broke up a long and dangerous Winnipeg cycle. After this game he now has six points in the last four games. This is one Baer who decided to emerge from hibernation early.
  • Sven wasn’t alone in his efforts. His linemate Bo Horvat had an excellent game too. Bo had a glorious chance halfway through the first, taking a pass at the blue line and spinning to gain the zone with speed. He fired a shot on net and nearly had a swat at his own rebound. I'm glad Bo had an empty net goal to seal the game, he deserved a point.

    In the latter half of the second, Connor Hellebuyck accidentally handed the puck right to Horvat, who deftly tossed it to Baertschi in the slot. Sadly he was denied by Hellebuyck. The Jets goaltender had clearly heard that Sven had left his winter den and remembered the importance of making yourself look big when facing an angry Baer.
  • After a Ben Hutton took a slashing penalty, Blake Wheeler took Dustin Byfuglien's pass and dashed into the Canucks' zone at full steam. He turned his shoulder to protect the puck, eluded a Markstrom poke check and neatly tucked it in far side. Poor Alex Biega, he was completely unable to knock the big, speedy winger off the puck. This Wheeler highlight-reeler lead-stealer hit Biega in the feelers. Here’s a clip of Biega's attempted check:

    Fezzik
  • Ten minutes through the second, Henrik and Daniel Sedin were able to sustain a short cycle before Henrik whipped behind the net and centred the puck. It floated past Hellebuyck and Brandon Tanev before landing on the stick of a patient Jannik Hansen. The Dane made his mark, rifling it over Hellebuyck’s shoulder to tie things up. This resuscitating goal proved that the Canucks are definitely not a sad sack team. Though I wouldn’t really call them a happy sack team either. They are an emotionally level sack team.
  • Late in the second, Vancouver wunderkind Troy Stecher intercepted the puck as Winnipeg left their zone, flinging it back to Markus Granlund with no Jet in sight to defend him. He made a quick forehand-backhand move but like a Harvard business graduate settling for a middle managerial role at Bed Bath & Beyond, Granlund’s aim wasn’t lofty enough, and the shot couldn’t squeak over Hellebuyck’s pads.
  • Let’s hope Vancouver doesn’t try to whip up any pyramid schemes or snake oil sales anytime in the near future, because their confidence game is really shot to pieces. The Canuck power play had all kinds of difficulties gaining the zone and setting up for the second game in a row. Like the time Don Draper fired all of his art staff, Vancouver will need to get a lot more creative if they want to get any work done.
  • Tru Fakt: Jannik Hansen has a cool Danish tattoo on his bicep. Know how it translates? “A patient Honey Badger catches the biggest cobras.” And Jannik Hansen showed that his patience extends well beyond hunting for sweet, delicious reptile meat.

    Set up by Daniel Sedin well out from the net, Hansen waited patiently before shooting, taking at least two seconds before unleashing the shot. Before firing, he mentally measured the distance, calculated Hellebuyck’s line of sight, and determined the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow. Then he wired a perfect goal for the game lead. Credit to Henrik for making like a Best Buy TV salesman and hooking Hansen up with a big screen.
  • Dustin Byfuglien should be ashamed. After living in Winnipeg for many years, he of all people ought to Be Baer Aware. After the Jets gained zone possession, Byfuglien sent a slapper on net. Sven went with the oldest ursine trick in the book: get up on your hind paws to look extra tall. It worked! He blocked the shot and then raced past Byfuglien to chase the puck down. He settled it, twisted up Hellebuyck and then ripped a goal home by going forehand-backhand, Alex Burrows style.
  • Jacob Markstrom kept Vancouver in one piece. Those penalty killers had better buy him dinner tonight. Markstrom was in fine form all game long, looking unbeatable and frustrating all Jets except Blake Wheeler. He had an outstanding save on Andrew Copp in the first, and a blocker save late in the third on Brandon Tanev. His strongest moment was on a late power play where he stood tall despite multiple defensive breakdowns. He was John Garrett's third star, but I'd have given him the first. On an unrelated note, I’m pretty sure a Sportsnet commentator called him Jacob Martian, which I love and dearly hope sticks.
  • Your Sedin summation: the twins and Hansen drove Vancouver's offence, with dangerous moments in all three periods and five points between them. Hansen looks better by the day. Do we have a good nickname for this trio yet? What about the Swedest Danish? Or the SeDane line? ... I'll just see myself out.
  • Your "Him?" moment of the game: this match-up saw coach Willie Desjardins pair Luca Sbisa with Chris Tanev. Sbisa was the big minute man of the match with over 25 minutes overall. It's amusing to look at the advanced stats of these two defenders. Tanev's Corsi was a healthy 53%. Sbisa? 35%. How is that even possible? El mundo es loco, Bulies.